Arsenal FC: Wenger Still Has Gunners on the Right Track

Though a fortuitous error gifted Arsenal FC with their first victory of the 2011-2012 Premier League campaign, it's apparent that the situation in north London might not be as bleak as originally thought. 

£10million signing Mikel Arteta looked extremely comfortable from the start of the Gunners' match against Swansea City and if he is able to maintain this form he will provide some much needed stability to the midfield.

The club's perennial injury woes have once again caused major problems. Unfortunately, for Arsenal, they have come at the onset of the season rather than the middle as they have in past years.  

This could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Gunners as the quality and depth of the side will increase exponentially when they receive starlet Jack Wilshere and defensive anchor Thomas Vermaelen from the injury list in October or November.

If the club can muster the necessary resolve to fight through this difficult time they could potentially develop the confidence and fortitude that Arsene Wenger has desperately sought to instill in his troops over the past four years.

Another positive to the early injury crisis is that it gives the younger players such as Emmanuel Frimpong and Frances Coquelin a chance to test themselves against world class opponents.  

While one could argue that the benefits to being on the field for drubbings such as the humiliating loss to Manchester United are few and far between, when the Gunners return to full strength these players will be much richer in their experiences as opposed to if they had been sitting on the bench throughout the same period. 

In addition to this, fans should be encouraged by the play of transfer Per Mertesacker.  While the German will need time to adjust to the rigors and physicality of the English game his debut was nothing short of solid and he provided immediate support to Arsenal's lackluster aerial defense.

Next week the Gunners will welcome foward Gervinho and defensive midfielder Alex Song back into the starting XI as they return from three-match bans incurred during the opening match of the season with Newcastle United.

With an eventual trio of Song, Arteta and Wilshere, the Gunners will soon boast one of the league's deepest and most talented midfields with names such as Yossi Benayoun, Frimpong and Ramsey on the bench. 

Defensively Arsenal find themselves in a similar position. Laurent Koscielny and youngsters Ignasi Miquel and Carl Jenkinson will become second and third choice selections for Wenger once his squad is at full strength.

When the club reaches this point it will be hard not to count them as a genuine threat on both the European and domestic fronts, but for now the task remains to hold on.